1
as in opportunities
a favorable combination of circumstances, time, and place
the talk show host's usual modus operandi is to talk over his guests, thereby denying them an opening to articulate their positions
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in apertures
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing
an opening in the roof is letting rain drip inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in gaps
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
the rabbit found a little opening in the bushes and darted through
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of openings
Tiny gaps around garages, vents, gutters, and foundations let mice squeeze inside unless openings are properly sealed.
—
Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
This week in metro Atlanta’s dining scene, restaurants rebounded with several new openings and announcements.
—Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 10 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
But with a promising 22-year-old quarterback in Jaxson Dart, this is the best QB situation of any of the non-Baltimore openings.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
This offseason is the second consecutive offseason where there are eight openings, with the Raiders the lone team participating in a head coaching search in both offseasons.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The other seven openings and the coaches who were relieved are Baltimore (John Harbaugh), Cleveland (Kevin Stefanski), the New York Giants (Brian Daboll), Las Vegas (Pete Carroll), Tennessee (Brian Callahan), Arizona (Jonathan Gannon) and Atlanta (Raheem Morris).
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
The openings come as Kroger is closing some stores, about 60 locations nationwide from mid-2025 through the end of 2026.
—Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 9 Jan. 2026
Then, Saban retired in January, creating openings at Washington, Arizona and San Jose State.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for openings
Noun
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The mission was to show the flag, explore commercial opportunities – including routes to supply gold-mining operations – and display a little firepower.—
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Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine Located about a 90-minute drive north of Bangor, this International Dark Sky Sanctuary is the perfect stargazing destination for outdoor lovers, with plenty of hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities for visitors.—
Noun
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In Stubb’s Cave, strangler-fig roots teemed from ceiling apertures.—
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As much of the world shut down, the apertures that life generally opens up for young people like the Shibutanis began shrinking.—
Noun
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For some of the victims’ families, the interviews clarified how and why the crimes unfolded, filling in gaps that police files and court records never fully answered after years of unresolved questions.—
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The gas can seep into homes through cracks in foundations or basement floors; gaps around pipes, cables, or utility lines; construction joints where walls and floors meet; and crawlspaces or dirt floors, the county said.—
Noun
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JSerra had a couple of scoring chances.—
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Rain chances return tomorrow, but most of the day is expected to be dry with several 'waves' of rain rolling through.—
Noun
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Officers saw multiple bullet holes on the metal fence dividing the properties and shell casings in his backyard, the affidavit said.—
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Add a pass rusher with the first pick, a receiver in Round 2 and then spend heavily on patching holes in free agency.—
Noun
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Pay extra attention to seams and crevices.—
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The best way to thwart this is to check around your property for potential sheltering spots and to seal holes and crevices with wood, hardware cloth, or another sturdy material.—
Cite this Entry
“Openings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/openings. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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